I’ve not been out of the house since Tuesday – so when I woke up this morning & the sun was shining I thought to mesen “I’ll go & watch our U16s, it’ll be a nice relaxing day out”…..
Not a chance!!! As soon as the whistle goes & I’m watching a team repping Frickley, I’m as tense as anything – add in the fact that it is a cup final AND add in the fact that the opposition are Ponte Colls – it’s El Classicoal, one of the biggest derbies in the footballing world
What better way to calm the nerves than a goal in the first few minutes – & it was the Young Azzurri who struck. A defence splitting ball found the impressive Young – he got clattered by the keeper but not before he’d applied a very sophisticated touch to make it 1 nil. The keeper needed lengthy treatment – more on him later
Shortly afterwards the boys played some lovely football but had the resulting ‘goal’ chalked off for offside
But that didn’t effect their momentum – we were awarded a free kick, a fair distance out. Padre Paul said to me ‘bottom right hand corner’ – up steps Jack Lawson, BOOM, bottom right hand corner. 2 nil & an assist for the Padre??
Ponty came out with renewed energy & vigour in the 2nd half – as they had to – but the Frickley boys stuck to their task, until a rather dubious penalty award. Our keeper did very well to save the initial spot kick but the rebound fell to the takers feet & he put it away. Harsh on the keeper I’ve got to say.
2-1, tension rising – but Frickley continue to be uppermost in the game & a screamer from distance goes just wide & a header goes just over.
We approach the denouement & Ponte have a corner – all 10 outfield players are up….but Frickley clear it & we gallop away into the Ponte half. There’s another collision between the away keeper & the onrushing Frickley forward but the ball breaks to George Hudson. I’m shouting for him to take it to the corner flag to run the clock down – he completely ignores me & strokes home the coolest, calmest finish you’ll see in a good while. That’s why George is on the pitch, scoring for fun & I’m on the touchline doing Twitter….
3-1 game over & the ref calls an end to proceedings shortly afterwards.
An excellent performance which means the Young Azzurri have done the league & cup double – well done to all the players, coaching staff, parents & everyone involved.
Very much a team performance by the boys – from 1 to 16 – but I am going to single one player out for a special mention & he’s not a Frickley player. The Ponte keeper deserves massive credit – got injured in the build up to our first goal & could – probably should – have come off. But he played the full game despite clearly being in pain – because he didn’t want to let his mates down. & that, my friends, is what it’s all about!!
Could I just add, that’s my first game watching the U16s – & I was made to feel incredibly welcome (as is always the way with the Frickley Family). Thank you to everyone – & thanks for letting me fire the confetti cannon at the end & double thanks for sending me home with 2 pieces of cake…..delish!
That’s 1 down & 1 to go – as the focus shifts to our U15s who play their cup final on Monday at the Eco Power in Donny, 10am start. Come on people, let’s get some numbers to the game & get behind the boys (again)
